“What a Life tells
the story of a remarkable Marine and human being. It is testimony
to the indomitable courage and determination of the great American
that is Randy Kington. It is men like Randy Kington, United States
Marine Corps, who made our nation great.” --Brigadier General Gary Brown USMC (Ret)
(read more quotes on the comments page)

Background

John Randall Kington grew up in Morristown Tennessee.
After a typical childhood, Randy joined the Marine Corps on September
3, 1964, and proceeded from boot camp at Parris Island to the jungles
of Vietnam within 10 months.

Randy was a rifleman and platoon
radio operator with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.
On March 21, 1966, Randy’s
platoon spearheaded an assault against the 21st North Vietnamese
Army Regiment. Against overwhelming odds, Echo Co. lost 95 young
Marines in a matter of moments. Before the Marines finally secured
victory, Kington was shot in the neck and lost all feeling in his
body.

Randy credits those seconds as the defining moment
of his life. He realized his need to be right with God. From the
7.62 millimeter round tearing into his neck to landing hard off
a rice paddy dike, Randy spent what seemed like minutes talking
with the Lord and receiving His forgiveness.

Randy’s life since his
injury is best summed up in the title of his autobiography--What a Life. He
met his wife Patty, and went back to school achieving a Masters
and CPA. Randy was an Associate Professor, Tax Partner, and with
Patty, owned their own CPA firm. Randy credits the successes of
his life to the faith gained from that battlefield conversion on
March 21, 1966.

Randy Kington is positive proof that barriers
can be overcome. Randy’s courage, his refusal to give up,
and a strong faith in God sustained him through times that would
defeat most. After 9 months of the most intense fighting of the
Vietnam War, 19 year old Kington was severely wounded in an encounter
with the enemy on March 21, 1966. The injury left him paralyzed
from the chest down and in a wheelchair for the remainder of his
life.

Randy’s life and inspirational message informs listeners
about the price that was paid to triumph over the most difficult
of obstacles and the rewards that came by overcoming.